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Lymphocyte response to phytohemagglutinin: Intracellular volume and intracellular [K + ]
Author(s) -
Holian A.,
Deutsch C. J.,
Holian S. K.,
Daniele R. P.,
Wilson D. F.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
journal of cellular physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.529
H-Index - 174
eISSN - 1097-4652
pISSN - 0021-9541
DOI - 10.1002/jcp.1040980115
Subject(s) - intracellular , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , biology
The effect of phytohemagglutinin (PHA) on lymphocytes was examined with respect to free intracellular water volume and intracellular [K + ]. At a cell concentration of 30 × 10 6 lymphocytes/ml in modified Hank's Buffered Salt Solution (HBSS) in the presence of 10% human AB serum, addition of PHA at 3 mg/ml resulted in a 24–27% decrease in free intracellular water space within 30 to 60 minutes and a return to control level after three hours. A larger change in intracellular water (44%) was observed under similar conditions in the absence of serum. The absolute intracellular K + content did not change after PHA addition, but the cell water volume decrease arising from PHA addition resulted in a 29% increase in intracellular [K + ] at 60 minutes. The decrease in lymphocyte water volume induced by PHA was also observed for concanavalin A which stimulates lymphocyte proliferation, but not for wheat germ lectin, an agglutinating agent which is not mitogenic. Thus, volume regulation may be closely associated with the mitogenicity of these compounds.